In a Facebook post, Buschmann confirmed the report that he was in the NPD "about 25 years ago", but said he had joined because he "had fallen in love with a woman who was there." Although he insisted he had not been an enthusiastic activist, he said it was "difficult to resist the group dynamics" and said he had put his name forward for party jobs.
He eventually resigned and moved into left-wing causes, and says that now, "Nothing disgusts me more than racism, anti-Semitism, fascism or discrimination of any kind."
He apologised for not having been transparent about his past, but said he wanted to remain in the parliament and to work on its agriculture committee to promote animal rights.
In a statement, the GUE/NGL said the European party was "disappointed in the breach of trust that has been committed" and had accepted Buschmann's resignation.